Saturday, 1 July 2017
We decided to follow the path we took on the train the other day and travel to the town of Girdwood. The Alyeska Resort, is located a top of Mount Alyeska near the end of the Turnagain Arm of Cook Inlet. Nope we are not going skiing, but we are going to take a five minute arial tram up 2300 feet, have lunch and a beer, and take a look at the scenery.
Traveling through Anchorage to get to the Seward Hwy the path seemed familiar. We are starting to know our way around town. That fact typically indicates it time for us to explore new territory.
It is a short trip of about 45 miles, and after about 20 miles, Ann Marie spotted some Dall Sheep hanging out on the rocky mountain. Amazing they don’t fall as they rely on agility and suction-cup hooves.
We arrived at the large stately building of the Ayleska (Ali-es-ka) Resort and walked through the beautiful flower gardens en-route to the Hotel entrance. Ann Marie spent some time photographing some of the flowers and landscape. It was very well done, and had flowers we were not familiar with. The picture below is of a Himalayan Poppy. One of the bluest flowers we have ever seen.
We went to the Tram ticket window, I presented our BOGO coupon, and she handed me 2 tickets and told me the total price. I looked at her like it was not right, and she said see applied the “senior” discount. I was about to argue with her, cause I’m only 59, I looked at Ann Marie, and she said “don’t shave your beard”!. Okay….
The ride up the mountain unfolded some awesome scenery and you could see the many walking trails zig-zaging up the mountain. Once top side, we were walking around and recognized a couple and their dog who we saw walking up the trail from the Tram. We talked to them and they said it only took them 1 hour and 5 minutes. Way better shape than we are.
We ate a couple of sandwiches at their restaurant and headed back to Tram, when we saw a Bride in here gown and her wedding party taking their pictures.
About 15 minutes away is the Portage Glacier.
Hundreds of years ago the glacier filled the entire Portage Valley, a distance of 14 miles, and was connected to what are now five separate glaciers.
A visitor center was built in 1912 practically “touching” the glacier. However, the glacier can no longer be viewed from there. There is a lake here now. It has retreated 3.5 miles over the last 100 years. Hmm… A boat ride across the lake is required to view the glacier.
The National Park Service narrator was on-board explaining all kinds of stuff. In fact the narrator, Chad, was the same narrator on the previous glacier tour we took in Whittier the other day. We talked for a bit, as he had recognized Ann Marie by the “beard” she hangs around with….
This boat trip was 60 minutes long, but was really nice. There we not many people on board, as we took the last cruise of the day at 1630 hours.
It only took about 10 minutes to get to the face of the glacier. The Captain kept the boat right in front of it for more than 40 minutes. Going back an forth, very slowly so we could hear the thunderous cracking sounds of the ice, until, finally, we heard a “calving”! A huge “shotgun” sound, followed by the splashing of water below as the glacier ice became an ice berg. Kool stuff.
On the way home, we stopped by a local fisherman selling his catch from the back of his truck. An entertaining guy as we talked about fishing charters in Soldotna. We bought some shrimp and halibut and proceeded home.
(You can “click” on picture to start a slideshow)
Great pictures